STEM grants for schools can be an incredible game changer when a teacher is awarded with some new instructional tools. As you might know from following our community, we award a $500 technology grant every month, providing one deserving educator with the chance to select any combination of classroom tech tools from our store. For May, our grant recipient is Erika Simmons, a high school teacher from The Academy of Urban Scholars in Ohio! Erika works with some traditionally vulnerable student populations and has one key goal of increasing access to STEM opportunities. And, we're happy to help support her STEM instruction with new drones for their aerospace-related initiatives.


Erika has helped develop a school-wide aerospace and drone technology initiative to prepare students for various career opportunities. She's working on securing some STEM supplies for these students and designing a curriculum specific to enabling them to develop key skills as it relates to the evolution of technology in the aerospace industry. Since one of those emerging areas is in drone technology, Erika decided that applying for our STEM grant could help her acquire some of the classroom technology she needed. Further, while computer science has dominated STEM-related preparation in K-12 schools, Erika knows it's not the only branch. Now, she's hoping to expose more students to the aerospace world and we're happy to help with that.


A STEM grant to help underrepresented students.


We'll be providing Erika with a mix of STEM tools through the grant donation, including some classroom drones. She plans to use them in aerospace lessons, of course, but she's also exploring ways to integrate them in other parts of the curriculum. One of those specific disciplines is in the construction pathway within the school CTE program. Of course, construction workers nowadays might use drones to capture photos or videos from new angles to help in planning and design, so this is a perfect opportunity to ease students in to this world. Then, of course, she'll be able to create cross-curricular projects and various connections between piloting a drone and career readiness. With her aerospace initiative, Erika plans to expose students to everything from mapping and photography to inspections and even deliveries.


careers in which drones are used on a construction site


Students in Erika's school are among some of the most vulnerable in the area. Specifically, the Black students have consistently been underserved and suffered through longtime systemic barriers. And, as you might guess, this includes accessing opportunities for exploring STEM disciplines. As evidenced by Erika taking action and applying for our STEM grant, she's very committed to bucking this trend. With this disparity, however, it's common that students attain minimal academic success, suffer from underemployment, and even exhibit criminal behavior. Not only is Erika helping them develop STEM skills, she's giving them an opportunity to participate in something meaningful and, ultimately, work towards earning their remote pilot certifications.


Overcoming adversity by increasing opportunity.


Besides long-term barriers, many students in this area of Columbus often suffer from amplified effects of the digital divide, too. The pandemic has also made things worse for many of them, even resulting in amplified poverty and displacement. Knowing that, without equitable access to technology, STEM experiences, and educational opportunities in general, these students are more likely to fall through the cracks, Erika is fighting to help them find a path forward. In fact, a key mission within The Academy for Urban Scholars community is bridging educational gaps for underrepresented students, specifically. Sometimes, they need grant awards or STEM donations to make this happen but Erika and her colleagues remain committed to equipping students with the skills for our modern digital workforce.


https://www.eduporium.com/blog/eduporium-weekly-edtech-equity-and-inclusion/


To help turn the tide on some key statistics, including high school graduation rates and higher education completion, Erika plans to work with these students to enhance both their academic and career skills. She estimates that over 200 students will participate in the aerospace program and receive integrated training with specific career-related elements. More importantly, these in-school experiences will help them build a foundation for pursuing more advanced certifications. Of course, these opportunities then increase the chances of landing a better job, ensuring self-sufficiency, and starting to reverse economic trends in the area. In fact, in this area, someone with a certification in drone piloting can assist in many community and commercial projects, which is perfect for motivating students and showing them how valuable these opportunities can ultimately be.


Putting this month's STEM grant to use.


In learning aerospace skills, Erika knows that students will have the opportunity to investigate various career fields. These include five main markets—military aircraft, missiles, space, commercial airliners, and aviation. In Ohio, specifically, there are hundreds of relevant business and institutions that align with these areas, which fits in perfectly with Erika's vision for exposing students to this STEM subset by applying for our grant. Her vision also involves increasing the percentage of minority students involved with aerospace programs. To her, it's a key first step in increasing diversity in STEM industries and achieving greater equity in educational opportunities. With such great intentions behind her mission, we're happy to help Erika improve these initiatives and drive even more progress!


students working on an aerospace engineering project with a stem grant


Once again, we thank Erika for applying for our STEM grant and congratulate her on her well-deserved selection. If you'd like to apply for our next grant, the application for the June award is now open. Any educator may apply and recipients have access to all the technology tools on our store. This spans from robotics and coding kits to VR systems, 3D printing set-ups, and even early education STEM tools. If you have any questions about applying, visit our grant page or contact our team for help. For more on EdTech, STEM, and maker education, follow us on Twitter and Instagram.